TSMRG 28

Chapter 28

“Serion Magic Tower?”

Ruine tilted his head in puzzlement as he repeated the words. Cabella hurriedly nodded in reply.

“Y-Yeah, that’s right. You know Master Renovan, right? They say you became his officially recognized disciple? I-I’m also Master Renovan’s disciple! When I heard he had a new disciple, I got curious and came looking!”

“…You’re saying you’re Master Renovan’s disciple?”

“I told you, I am!”

There was a mix of bluffing and exaggeration in her words, but at the very least Cabella firmly believed that one day she would become Renovan’s disciple.

“M-Master really cherishes me, you know. Hehe. Even though I look like this, I’ve got the greatest talent in the Tower…”

“Proof.”

“Huh? W-What do you mean, proof?”

Startled by Ruine’s demand, Cabella flailed her hands in panic.

“Th-There’s no proof.”

“…”

“Ah, w-wait. I don’t have proof that I’m Master Renovan’s disciple, but—here, look at this.”

She pulled out a brooch fastened deep inside her clothes.

“See this? It’s the emblem of the Serion Tower. Only Tower members are allowed to carry this!”

She quickly rattled off the history and symbolism of the brooch she wore.

“…”

But even after her explanation, Ruine simply stared at her with an unwavering gaze, saying nothing.

“For god’s sake! I’m not lying! This really is the Serion Tower’s symbol!”

Frustrated, Cabella raised her voice. At that moment, the Sword Soul’s sardonic voice echoed.

[Hey, Ruine. That really is a genuine brooch…]

But before he could finish, Ruine responded.

‘I know.’

[Huh?]

The Sword Soul sounded confused. Ruine muttered lightly.

‘I just want to give her some proper education right now.’

[Education? Ha. I see. Yeah, looking at her, if you don’t put her in her place early, she’ll be nothing but trouble.]

‘…Exactly.’

The two shared a conversation with invisible smirks—one Cabella could never possibly know about.

Meanwhile, she was on the verge of tears, shouting desperately.

“I’m telling you the truth, please believe me! And could you put that sword away already…? I’m Cabella Ksante of the Serion Tower!!”

…

A while later.

Ruine had withdrawn the Sword Soul’s shadow. Across from him, Cabella sat slumped on the ground as though her legs had given out, sniffling nonstop as she complained about the unfairness of it all.

“I’m telling you the truth, but you don’t believe me… sniff!”

Ruine leaned against a tree, shook his head slightly, and spoke.

“Will you stop crying?”

“…I’m not crying! Sniff.”

Anyone could see she’d been crying buckets.

As she stubbornly denied it, Ruine let out a small sigh that went unnoticed. The Sword Soul, on the other hand, laughed in delight at her antics.

[Kekeke, what a cute and fiery girl she is.]

‘Fiery? She’s just a clueless brat.’

[Oh really? And what are you then? A kid who knows everything about the world? If anything, she looks older than you.]

‘Just because someone’s older doesn’t mean they know better.’

Carrying with him all the memories and experiences of Subject 1872, Ruine’s mental fortitude far outstripped most grown men.

“Sniff… why don’t you believe me? You keep pointing that sword at me like you’re going to kill me… sniff!”

“Hey.”

“My name’s not ‘hey,’ it’s Cabella!”

“Fine, Cabella.”

Ruine nodded lightly, playing along, and then asked in a calm voice:

“What’s your relationship with the Tower Lord, Adorno?”

Now that he knew the girl’s name was Cabella Ksante, Ruine suspected she must be closely related to Adorno, the master of the Serion Tower.

And sure enough—

“He’s my freaking grandfather, okay?! Not that you’ll believe me anyway! Sniff.”

Ruine thought quietly to himself.

‘So this girl is the granddaughter of Adorno Ksante, the current Lord of the Serion Tower?’

From Subject 1872’s memories, Adorno Ksante had been an awe-inspiring old man, one of the Four Pillars of the Continent. Even when standing alone before an army of a million, he had the presence of a commander who would bellow without fear.

Even Roben Paterion, the hermit-sage who scoffed at everyone and lived only in his own world, had once been moved to admiration by him.

‘Compared to her grandfather, this girl’s… well, maybe she takes after someone else’s side of the family. Though her eyes are a little similar, I guess.’

Ruine shook his head slightly and answered.

“Alright. This time, I’ll believe you.”

“…What?”

Cabella stared in disbelief.

“Seriously? When I explained everything in detail earlier, you ignored me. But now suddenly you believe me?”

“Should I take it back, then?”

“No, that’s not what I meant! Damn it!”

Thud!

She stomped the ground in frustration, making Ruine chuckle.

“Just kidding.”

“Joking? At a time like this—damn it!”

Her face flushed red with fury, eyes bloodshot, Cabella glared at him while muttering to herself:

‘What kind of kid is this? He’s like a snake with a thousand tricks up his sleeve.’

Then she shivered as she recalled his earlier terrifying aura.

‘He looked like the Grim Reaper before… but now he seems almost like a normal boy my age. Ugh, I don’t get it!’

At that moment, Ruine spoke again.

“So then.”

Pausing briefly, he continued while meeting her gaze.

“Are you and I… fellow disciples, then?”

“‘You and I’? Did you just say you and I? Hey, you—”

“Ahem. Not ‘hey.’ It’s Ruine.”

Correcting her words with a shake of his head, Ruine drew another outburst.

“Ugh, why does that matter right now?”

“Ruine.”

“…Fine, Ruine.”

Finally conceding, Cabella exhaled and went on.

“But if we’re fellow disciples like you said, then I’m your senior disciple-sister! You should be calling me sajeo! (senior sister)”

“….”

Ruine stayed silent, giving no reaction. Cabella’s mind spun quickly.

‘What’s with him?’

Having pranked and teased countless people at the Tower, Cabella immediately smelled an opportunity for fun.

‘Aha. He doesn’t want to call me sajeo, huh? Fine. I’ll make him pay for scaring me earlier.’

Putting on a soft voice and sly gaze, she coaxed:

“Alright, Ruine. From now on, call me sajeo, and I’ll call you saje. Okay?”

“….”

Still no response. Cabella pressed on with a forced laugh.

“Since we share the same master now, we should get along as siblings, right? Hahaha.”

Finally, Ruine spoke.

“No. Just call me Ruine. I’ll call you Cabella.”

“Oh no, Ruine. Did you just call me Cabella?! How dare you address your senior sister so casually? At times like this, hierarchy matters most! Now, repeat after me. Sajeo!”

For a moment, Ruine’s hand twitched toward the sword on his back, but he quickly shook his head and muttered instead.

“Cabella.”

“Sajeo.”

“Cabella.”

“Ugh, I told you to call me sajeo!”

Finally losing patience, Cabella shrieked, while Ruine calmly ignored her.

Then—

“Cabella, I have a question.”

“What now?! What do you want to ask?”

“Why did you come all the way here, spying on me in secret?”

His tone turned sharp. Cabella quickly turned her head away.

“Hmph! I’m not answering unless you call me sajeo.”

She even stuck out her tongue at him. Ruine slowly raised the monocle in his hand.

“This.”

“Hey, that’s expensive! Be careful—”

Cabella reached out in a panic, but—

Whoosh.

Ruine dodged easily, smirking.

“I’ll break it.”

“…What?”

“If you don’t answer me properly, I’ll smash this.”

“Hey!”

“Not hey. Ruine.”

“You little—ugh!”

Cabella screamed in genuine frustration, her prank turning back on her. Ruine, unfazed, repeated calmly:

“So answer me. Why did you come all the way here to find me?”

“Why else?! I heard Master Renovan took on a new named disciple, so I…”

“Why?”

“…What?”

“Why is it so special that Master took on a new disciple?”

“O-Of course it’s special! That’s something many people want but can never—”

Realizing too late what she was about to say, she hastily changed course.

“A-Anyway, the famous Sage of the Serion Tower accepting a new disciple is naturally big news! I was curious, that’s all! Nothing more!”

She pressed him, asking if he even understood what an honor it was to be chosen by Renovan.

But Ruine’s steady gaze never wavered. Then he smirked.

“Cabella.”

“What now!”

“You’re not, are you?”

“…Huh?”

“You’re not actually Master Renovan’s disciple, are you?”

“……!”

The words struck her like a dagger to the heart. Cabella froze, stunned, staring at him wide-eyed.

“Alright, that’s enough for today.”

“…Thank you for your hard work, Master.”

“You too, you’ve worked hard.”

With those polite exchanges, Renovan Versaten ended the lesson. As he prepared to leave, Ruine addressed him carefully.

“Um, Master.”

“Yes? Do you have something you’re curious about?”

Renovan smiled faintly as he asked. Ruine hesitated, then spoke cautiously.

“Do you know… someone in the Tower named Cabella?”

“Cabella? Cabella Ksante?”

“Yes, that’s her.”

Renovan’s eyes flickered oddly as he nodded.

“Of course I know her. But why do you ask about her all of a sudden?”

“Well… is she one of your disciples, Master…?”

Just as Ruine was about to press further—

Crash! Boom! Bang!

A tremendous noise erupted from outside.

“Oh my, what’s going on? A thief, perhaps? Bind!”

It was his mother, Daisy’s, voice—calm and nonchalant as she apprehended someone.

“Ah! N-No, wait! I’m not a thief—Ru-Ruine! Help me out here!”

Cabella’s now-familiar voice rang out.

And then—

“Ruine? Did you just say Ruine? You! What’s your relationship with my son Ruine?!”

Daisy’s tone suddenly spiked with intensity, sending chills through the air.

At the same time—

[Well, well. Looks like a real troublesome brat has shown up.]

The Sword Soul’s candid evaluation was met with Ruine’s simple reply:

‘You can say that again.’

He just nodded lightly in agreement.